System of control



A. H. CANDEE.

SYSTEM'OF CONTROL;

Patented Got. 35 1922.

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ANDREW H. CANDEE, OF FOREST HILLS. PENNSYLVANIA,

HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

SYSTEIVI OF CONTROL.

Application led November 20, 1920. Serial No. 425,391.

Tio all-whom it may concern r i Be it known that I, ANDREW H. CiiNnnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident l of Forest Hills, in the county ot'Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefullmprovement in Systems of Control, of which the following is a speciiicatio'n. i

A lMy invention relates to systems of control and it has speciall relation to the control of a plurality of motors that are adapted to be operated in either series or parallel relation. One object of my invention is to simplify the apparatus and circuits fork operating 'motors in either seriesl or parallel relation',

Another object ot' invinvention is to connect the actuating coil for the main-line con-` tactor directly between the series-parallel controller and the reversing controller, thereby interlocking' the two controllers to avoid the danger of improperly energizing .the motors. v Other and more specific objects of my invention will be apparent from the following xdescription andclaims. I s

Inasmuclias the main-circuit connections s and apparatus for operating` a plurality of motors in seriesv or in parallel relation are now well known, as well as the main-circuit connections for effecting a reversal ofthe motors, noi detailed ,illustration thereof or reference thereto will be made in this application.V y I y For the purposes of the present invention, it will sufliceito say that it is highly desirable to interlock` the respective actuating means for controlling the above-mentioned operations in suchmanner that thei'e'shall vbe no possibilitywof reversingfthe current in the motors atta time whenit would be damaging todosoQ. s,

The present invention accomplishes the above-mentioned result with the smallest number of control fingers and-contact segments compatible with etiicient operation.

My invention will best be understoody by reference to the accompanying drawing, lwherein the single'iigure is a diagrammatic view ot as' muc-h ofthe' apparatus and circuits embodying my invention as will be nec- `essary for a complete understanding thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the system here `shown comprises suitable ysupply-circniit conductors trolley and groundfl a mainmotor circuit l0, as indicated bythe legend To motors, a series-parallel drum l and a reversing drum 7, both of the electromagnetically governed type, a control switch 4 and a master-reverser 6 for governing'the operation of said drums, a line switch' or main-line contactor 5, which is connected in themain circuit l0, and a control resistor l1 AssiGNon 'ro WnsTINei'or supplying suitable low voltareto'the various illustrated actuating coils.

The series-parallel drum and thereversing drum are shown in part andare appropriately designated by the legends appearing upon the drawing. In practice, these drums are 'preferably incorporated in a single motor controller. .y The series-parallel s controller l is shown as equipped with two contact segments.v Appropriate means for moving the drum to either series or parallel position, whereby the motors will be operated accordingly, is here shown as electromagnets 2 and 3. The Contact segments oi" the'dium l are shown engaging one control finger in circuit with the series7 coil 2, one

vcontrol finger in circuit with a source of energy, one control finger in' circuit with thc parallel coil 3, and one control finger incircuit 'with' the coil of a'iiiain-line contacter `5. yThere are, in addition, two auX- iliary control .tingers that are connected to the opposite switch jaws of the knife-blade switch `4t. The blade of the switch 4 is shown as pivoted so as to be movable to engage either of said jaws,and has a connection direct tothe ground.

lInfthe series positionS of the drum l in the drawings, the series coil has been energized, thus pulling the drum to the positionshown. f This has been accomplished by 1 tion.

shown, will operate the motors in series relai The contact segments of the drum l are` so shaped' that, in the position shown, the

parallel coil 3 isready to be energized when'- `over the movable blade of the switch 4t en- `Pywherein the motors will run in parallel relation, andthe control finger ot the series coil will be engaged ready to energize this coil when the switch t is properly moved. It will be noted that, in both the series and the paallel positions, the coil of the mainline contacter 5 is connected to the ground, through one of the auxiliary control fingers, the switch jaw that is engaged by the blade of the switch 4:, and said blade, which, it will be remembered, is connected directly to the ground.

rI`he apparatus for controlling the reversing of the motors is of the same general type as that just described for the series-parallel controller; namely, the drum 7 is shown as equipped with t vo contact segments, and electromagnets 8 and 9 for effecting forward and reverse"7 operations, corresponding to positions F and It, respectively. The contact segments are adapted to engage two control lingers that are respectively connected to the coils 8 and 9, two control iingers in circuit with the coil of the contactor 5 and two control lingers in circuit with control lingers of a master reverser 6, conventionally shown in the drawing.

The master reverser is shown in the forward position F. Accordingly, the coil of the electromagnet 8 has been energized to lmove the drum 7 to the forward position,

designated by the letter l*1 Should the master reverser (j be moved to the opposite position r, the coil of the reversing electromagnet t) would vbe energized to move the drum 7 to the position designated by the letter R. It will be noted that the coils 8 and 9 are connected directly to the ground, this ground connection being the one common to the movable element of the knife-blade switch t.

The direct connection of the main-line contactor between the two drums l and '7 enables these controllers to be so interlocked that the motors controlled thereby cannot be operated in harmful relation.

This may best be understood if the invention is regarded as applied to a railway car having a complete motor-controller at each end of the car. In this event, there would be two of the knife-blade switches 4, one at each end of the car. It may be assumed that the controller at the front end of the car has been left in the position shown in the drawing, namely, forward, series position. The motorman could not go to the other end'of the car and operate the motors in the reverse direction, either in series or parallel relation, until the master reverser 6 Vhad been actuated to move the drum 7 to the reverse position.

This simplified interlocking arrangement is accomplished by reason of the fact that the actuating coil of the main-line contactor 5 is connected directly between the two drums l and 7. Accordingly, there is but a single circuit therebetween.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a reduction in the necessary apparatus, as well as a reduction in circuits, is accomplished by the present invention, thereby diminishing the cost of production and installation of a control system of the type set forth.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specic circuit connections, or apparatus, or arrangements of parts herein set forth, as various modiiications thereof may be made wit-hout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention l. In a control system for a plurality of motors, the combination with a main-line contactor and a controller which, when operated to one position, connects said motors in series relation and, when operated to another position, connects said motors in parallel relation, of a second controller adapted to reverse the current in said motors, both of said controllers being in circuit with a certain element of said contactor.

2. In a control system for a plurality of motors, the combination with a source of energy, control means for reversing said motors and a'main-line contact-or, the control circuit of which is in circuit therewith, of plural-position control means adapted to com nect said motors either in series relation or in parallel relation, said last-named means employing two lingers respectively operative in only one ofthe positions corresponding to said relations, a finger in circuit with said source of energy, and a linger in circuitwith the coil of said mainline contactor, whereby a reduced number of contact members is employed for interlocking the two control means.

3. In a control system for a plurality of motors, the combination with a main-line contactor, control means for reversing said motors, and control means for connecting said motors in series or in parallel relation, ofthe actuating coil of said main-line contactor being connected between said control means .to interlock them against improper running connection.

4f. 'In a control system for a plurality of motors, the combination with means for reversing said motors, of control means .for connecting said motors in series or in parallel relation, said means including a switch for controlling said series-parallel connec tions, said switch being located upon the negative side of said control means.

`5. In a control system for a plurality of motors, the combination with a plurality of switching devices for governing different operations of said motors, of a line switch coil connected between said devices.

6. In a control system for a plurality of motors, the combination with a source of energy, a main-line contactor, and means for reversing said motors kemploying two control fingers in circuit with the control circuit of said'main-line contactor, two con` trol fingers in circuit with said source of energy, and two control fingers respectively operative in only one of the forwardy and the reverse connections, of means for con? nectng said motors in series or in parallel relation, said control means embodying only two ingersrespectively operative in only one of the positions corresponding to said relations, a nger in circuit with said source of energy, and a `nger in circuit with the `coil of said main-line contacter.

7. In a control system for a plurality of motors, the combination with a lurality of control drums Jfor governing cli erent oper-` the sole connection between said drums.

\ In testimony whereof, VI have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of 'November 1920,

` ANDREW H. CANDEE. 

